Synnøve Karlsen is a Norwegian Scottish actress best known for playing Clarice Orsini in the historical drama series Medici, Holly McStay in the BBC thriller series Clique and Jocasta in the 2021 Edgar Wright psychological horror film Last Night in Soho. Karlsen was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and raised in Helensburgh before her family relocated to London when she was 12 years old. She is of Norwegian descent.She has three older brothers and is the niece of Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley. She studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and then the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, leaving after a year upon being cast in Clique